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Setting up multiple user accounts on Mac can also be useful if you want to use Parental Controls on macOS to manage family members, so you can block specific apps and set time limits.
Even if you're the sole Mac user, setting up multiple accounts can still be beneficial: you can separate work into one account, entertainment into another, or use one account to experiment with 'crazy' settings without affecting your main account.
No matter the reason, once you know how, adding multiple accounts on Mac will be quite simple for you.
How to Set Up Multiple User Accounts on MacOS
During the initial Mac setup, you'll have one account - this is the main Admin account on your Mac. You can add a new user account from this account, or from any other Admin account, but other accounts cannot add or manage user accounts.
If following the steps below doesn't work, make sure you're using an Admin account.
To add a new user account, go to System Preferences =>Users & Groups.
Now you'll see a list of all users displayed in the left panel of the Users & Groups window, but the option to add a new user is not activated, it's grayed out. To proceed, you need to click on the padlock icon in the bottom left corner.
Enter your password when prompted, and you'll see the '+' icon above activated, no longer grayed out.
A form will appear allowing you to select the account type, username, account name, and password information.
Choosing the username and password for the account is simple; the noteworthy part here is deciding which account to choose.
There are 4 options available for setting up multiple user accounts on MacOS, and you'll need to carefully consider before making a choice.
- Admin Account: This account has full control over your Mac. Using this account can change system settings, install software, not to mention create and delete other user accounts. Only provide Admin accounts to those you fully trust.
- Standard Account: It can install applications and modify their individual settings, but cannot change system settings and cannot create or delete other user accounts.
- User Accounts managed with Parental Controls can only access apps and websites designated by the Admin and may be restricted across all other accounts. To activate Parental Controls, you need to create this type of account for your child.
- Sharing Only Account: Users cannot log in to their local computer. These accounts are only for sharing files over the network and are only for viewing files you specify. This is a great solution for sharing folders without providing your main username and password.
Choose the type of account you want to create, then fill in the full username and password. From now on, you'll see both accounts on your login screen (unless you create a Sharing Only account).
Setting up multiple user accounts on Mac
You can log in to either account here. An orange checkmark indicates the active account.
How to quickly switch between user accounts?
If you need to switch accounts frequently, you don't have to worry about logging out: you can run multiple accounts simultaneously on Mac. When you create a new account, the Fast User Switching icon will be added to the menu bar.
You can quickly switch from one user to another here: just click on the username you want to use, then enter the password. If the process is slow, you can instantly switch users using TouchID, assuming your Mac offers that feature.
Simply add a fingerprint for each account, then instantly switch accounts by pressing the TouchID button.
On Windows, creating accounts for users is quite straightforward. If you're using Windows 10, check out how to create a Windows 10 account here.
